I've been playing the Android port mostly. And one of the options is NPP 0.41...

[Pete Mack]

And it is a good bit harder than V 4.2. Here are some big pluses and minuses:

+ charisma makes a surprisingly big difference; doubly so without the no_sell option.

+ various cure potions are vastly weaker. This is a big one.

- The old inventory shopping minigame is a huge drag. You gotta stock ID, Phase, Recall, and even ammo in your home just in case. Then the minigame is solved. Just tedious.

- rune based ID is *such* an improvement. Especially *Identify* without ID-by use is just horrible.

- UI is just intolerable. The pickup options; the lack of info on the equipment description, particularly on weapons and ammo; the clunky I-i-e inventory commands; the non-intuitive squelch mechanism.

-the slow learning of lore, even when it is obvious (like monster HP and damage);

+ the lack of fractional blows. This makes for a less smooth progression, which is good.

+ ( NPP) Rogue tricks--monster traps and lethal sling use. I keep forgetting to use the former, but I know it is powerful. Stealing is the weakest of the 3.

+ (NPP) Bats (of Gorgoroth) get evasion. Yikes!

[Pete Mack]

As for the character... Just found Cambeleg and Resistances. Big step up, from 77 to 132 dam/turn, with fire brand. And my sling of power is doing 104HP/turn with ordinary shot.

[Pete Mack]

Here's a character dump, since this variant is nk longer compatible with the ladder.

 [NPPAngband 0.4.1 Character Dump]

 Name   Angwildor                       Self RB CB  EB   Best
 Sex    Male         Age     128 STR:     17 +1 +2  +5  18/70
 Race   High-Elf     Height   93 INT:     15 +3 +1  +1  18/20
 Class  Rogue        Weight  181 WIS:     12 -1 -2  +1     10
 Title  Filcher      Status   66 DEX:     17 +3 +3  +0  18/50
 HP     322/322                  CON:     16 +1 +1  +2  18/20
 SP     43/43        Level    29 CHR:     11 +5 -1  +0     15

 GameTurn    467552  Armor   [17,+55] Saving Throw     Superb
 Cur Exp     133507  Fight  (+14,+23) Stealth          Superb
 Max Exp     133507  Melee  (+23,+27) Fighting      Legendary
 Adv Exp     168750  Shoot  (+32,+34) Shooting      Legendary
 MaxDepth   Lev  36  Blows     2/turn Disarming        Superb
 Gold          2236  Shots     2/turn Magic Device     Heroic
 Burden     126 lbs  Speed         +3 Perception    Very Good
 % Burden       42%  Infra      70 ft Searching          Good

 You are the only child of a Telerin Warrior. You have light
 grey eyes, straight silver hair, and a fair complexion.




  [Character Equipment Stat Modifiers, Sustains and Flags]

(+/-) +  +     ++ 
      |}=="~(()]]]               |}=="~(()]]]
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@
 Str: ...3......2..        Str:  ...s.........
 Int: .........1...        Int:  .........s...
 Wis: 1............        Wis:  .............
 Dex: .............        Dex:  .............
 Con: ..........2..        Con:  .............
 Chr: .............        Chr:  .............
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@ 
 Acid:........+....        Blind:............. 
 Elec:....+........        Confu:............. 
 Fire:......+......        Sound:............. 
 Cold:......+......        Shard:............. 
 Pois:.............        Nexus:.......+..... 
 Fear:.............        Nethr:............. 
 Lite:............+        Chaos:............. 
 Dark:.............        Disen:............. 
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@ 
S.Dig:.............        Stea.:.......+.....
Feath:.............        Sear.:.............
PLite:.............        Infra:.............
Regen:.............        Aggr.:.............
Telep:.............        Speed:.......+.....
Invis:............+        Blows:.............
FrAct:...........+.        Shots:.............
HLife:.............        Might:.............
      abcdefghijkl@              abcdefghijkl@
      |}=="~(()]]]               |}=="~(()]]] 

  [Character Equipment]

a) a Katana of *Slay Evil* (3d4) (+9,+4) (+1) {@w1;ESP}
   It increases your wisdom by 1.  It slays all evil creatures.  
   It is blessed by the gods.  It gives you 2 attacks per turn.  
   It might have hidden powers.
b) a Sling of Power (x2) (+8,+15)
c) a Topaz Ring of Damage (+11)
d) an Aquamarine Ring of Strength (+3)
   It increases your strength by 3.  It sustains your strength.  
   
e) an Agate Amulet of Resist Lightning
   It provides resistance to lightning.  It cannot be harmed by 
   electricity.  
f) The Phial of Galadriel
   It lights the dungeon around you.  It cannot be harmed by the
   elements.  It might have hidden powers.
g) Soft Leather Armour of Resist Elements [4,+0]
   It provides resistance to fire and cold.  It cannot be harmed
   by fire or cold.  
h) The Cloak 'Colannon' [1,+15] (+3)
   It increases your stealth and speed by 3.  It provides
   resistance to nexus.  It activates for teleport every 45
   turns.  It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
i) a Small Leather Shield of Resist Elements [2,+4]
   It provides resistance to acid.  It cannot be harmed by acid.
   
j) a Metal Cap of Intelligence [3,+8] (+1)
   It increases your intelligence by 1.  It sustains your 
   intelligence.  
k) The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg' (+8,+8) [1,+15] (+2)
   It increases your strength and constitution by 2.  It cannot
   be harmed by the elements.  It might have hidden powers.
l) a Pair of Metal Shod Boots of Free Action [6,+10]
   It grants you immunity to paralysis.  


  [Character Inventory]

a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Magic for Beginners]
b) a Book of Magic Spells [Incantations and Illusions] {@m3}
c) a Book of Magic Spells [Resistances of Scarabtarices] {@m5}
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  
d) 2 Pieces of Elvish Waybread
e) 5 Red Speckled Potions of Speed
f) 14 Indigo Potions of Cure Critical Wounds {25% off}
g) a Tangerine Potion of Resist Acid
h) 5 Scrolls titled "binwex rhovgar" of Teleport Level {!*}
i) 4 Scrolls titled "nelggre zunsun" of Word of Recall {!*, 25% off}
j) 6 Scrolls titled "zun lechsan" of Identify
k) 4 Rusty Wands of Teleport Other (31 charges)
l) 2 Platinum Wands of Stone to Mud (8 charges)
m) 2 Aspen Staffs of Teleportation (9 charges) {!*}
n) The Well-balanced Dagger 'Narthanc' (2d4) (+4,+7) {@w1}
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  It gives you 4 attacks
   per turn.  It might have hidden powers.
o) 22 Rounded Pebbles (1d2) (+6,+4) {=g}
p) 4 Iron Shots of Frost (1d4) (+8,+8) {=g}
   It is branded with frost.  It cannot be harmed by cold.  
q) 18 Iron Shots of Flame (2d4) (+2,+5) {=g}
   It is branded with fire.  It cannot be harmed by fire.  
r) 15 Iron Shots (1d4) (+3,+7) {=g}
s) 30 Iron Shots (1d4) (+0,+0) {=g}

  [Home Inventory Stat Modifiers, Sustains and Flags]

(+/-)         +                
       ??,!??_"(                       ??,!??_"(               
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
 Str:  ........................  Str:  ........................
 Int:  ........................  Int:  ........................
 Wis:  ........................  Wis:  ........................
 Dex:  ........................  Dex:  ........................
 Con:  ........................  Con:  ........................
 Chr:  .......3................  Chr:  .......s................
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
 Acid: ........+............... Blind: ........................
 Elec: ........................ Confu: ........................
 Fire: ........................ Sound: ........................
 Cold: ........................ Shard: ........................
 Pois: ........................ Nexus: ........................
 Fear: ........+............... Nethr: ........................
 Lite: ........................ Chaos: ........................
 Dark: ........................ Disen: ........................
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
S.Dig: ........................ Stea.: ........................
Feath: ........................ Sear.: ........................
PLite: ........................ Infra: ........................
Regen: ........................ Aggr.: ........................
Telep: ........................ Speed: ........................
Invis: ........+............... Blows: ........................
FrAct: ........+............... Shots: ........................
HLife: ........................ Might: ........................
       abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx        abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
       ??,!??_"(                       ??,!??_"(

  [Home Inventory]

a) 2 Books of Magic Spells [Conjurings and Tricks]
b) a Book of Magic Spells [Incantations and Illusions] {25% off}
c) a White Spotted Mushroom of Restoring
d) 2 Chartreuse Potions of Healing {40% off}
e) 4 Scrolls titled "nelggre zunsun" of Word of Recall {!*, 25% off}
f) 3 Scrolls titled "sriood ashcos" of *Identify* {!*}
g) a Golden Staff of *Destruction* (3 charges)
h) a Copper Amulet of Charisma (+3)
   It increases your charisma by 3.  It sustains your charisma.  
   
i) The Cloak of Thorongil [1,+10]
   It provides resistance to acid and fear.  It grants you 
   immunity to paralysis and the ability to see invisible things.
   It cannot be harmed by the elements.  

Angwildor the High-Elf Rogue
Began the quest to kill Morgoth on 03/18/2021 at 02:01 PM
============================================================
                   CHAR.  
|   TURN  | DEPTH |LEVEL| EVENT
============================================================
|    14596|     1 |  5  | Reached level 5
|    24826|     1 |  6  | Quest: Killed 16 Large grey snakes
|    33003|     3 |  7  | Killed Wolf, Farmer Maggot's dog
|    49363|     3 |  8  | Quest: Destroyed 16 Piles of creeping silver coins 
|    52198|  Town |  8  | Killed Lotho Pimple
|    66868|     6 | 10  | Reached level 10
|    69048|     6 | 10  | Quest: Killed 9 Priests
|    70623|     6 | 10  | Killed Bullroarer the Hobbit
|    78933|     8 | 11  | Killed Lagduf, the Snaga
|    94078|     8 | 13  | Killed Fang, Farmer Maggot's dog
|    94763|     8 | 13  | Destroyed Charles Swiger, the Skeleton
|    96793|     8 | 13  | Quest: Killed 10 Swordsmen
|   117063|    13 | 15  | Reached level 15
|   131386|    13 | 16  | Quest: Killed 14 Umber hulks
|   132076| Quest | 16  | Reward: The Cloak of Thorongil
|   147161|    20 | 16  | Killed Orfax, Son of Boldor
|   171965|    20 | 20  | Reached level 20
|   191914|    20 | 21  | Quest: Killed 11 Gelatinous cubes
|   209064|    22 | 23  | Killed Brodda, the Easterling
|   234118|    24 | 25  | Reached level 25
|   239796|    24 | 25  | Killed Golfimbul, the Hill Orc Chief
|   240639|    24 | 25  | Found The Well-balanced Dagger 'Narthanc'
|   274125|    24 | 26  | Killed Angamaite of Umbar
|   276205|    24 | 26  | Quest: Killed 14 Young gold dragons
|   276455|    24 | 26  | Found The Phial of Galadriel
|   284213|    28 | 26  | Killed Grip, Farmer Maggot's dog
|   304729|    28 | 26  | Killed Sangahyando of Umbar
|   305909|    28 | 26  | Quest: Killed 11 Fire giants
|   306479|    28 | 26  | Killed Ibun, Son of Mim
|   334152|    30 | 27  | Quest: Killed 12 Araneas
|   368907|    34 | 27  | Found The Set of Leather Gloves 'Cambeleg'
|   368937|    34 | 27  | Swweet!
|   383816|    34 | 27  | Scarabtrices
|   417382|    35 | 28  | Killed Khim, Son of Mim
|   429862|     9 | 28  | Killed Mughash the Kobold Lord
|   455646|    36 | 29  | Quest: Killed Rogrog the Black Troll
|   465152|    36 | 29  | Esp swap
|   467019| Quest | 29  | Reward: The Cloak 'Colannon'
============================================================


  [Options]

GAME PLAY OPTIONS:

Auto-haggle in stores                        : yes (auto_haggle)
Auto-scum for good levels                    : no  (auto_scum)
Allow the generation of themed levels        : yes (allow_themed_levels)
Expand the power of the look command         : yes (expand_look)
Expand the power of the list commands        : yes (expand_list)
Map remembers all perma-lit grids            : yes (view_perma_grids)
Map remembers all torch-lit grids            : yes (view_torch_grids)
Generate dungeons with aligned rooms         : yes (dungeon_align)
Generate dungeons with connected stairs      : yes (dungeon_stair)
Monsters exploit players weaknesses          : no  (smart_cheat)

BIRTH OPTIONS:

Adult: Allow purchase of stats using points  : yes (adult_point_based)
Adult: Allow specification of minimal stats  : no  (adult_auto_roller)
Adult: Maximize effect of race/class bonuses : yes (adult_maximize)
Adult: Preserve artifacts when leaving level : yes (adult_preserve)
Adult: Restrict the use of stairs/recall     : no  (adult_ironman)
Adult: Restrict the use of stores/home       : no  (adult_no_stores)
Adult: Restrict creation of artifacts        : no  (adult_no_artifacts)
Adult: Randomize some of the artifacts (beta): no  (adult_rand_artifacts)
Adult: Never stack objects on the floor      : no  (adult_no_stacking)
Adult: Have notes to written to a file       : yes (adult_take_notes)
Adult: All levels generated small            : no  (adult_force_small_lev)
Adult: Retain squelch settings               : no  (adult_retain_squelch)
Adult: Disable quests                        : no  (adult_no_quests)
Adult: Disable player ghosts                 : no  (adult_no_player ghosts)
Adult: Disable store services                : no  (adult_no_store_services)
Adult: Disable extra artifacts               : no  (adult_no_xtra_artifacts)

CHEAT OPTIONS:

Score: Peek into object creation             : no  (score_peek)
Score: Peek into monster creation            : no  (score_hear)
Score: Peek into dungeon creation            : no  (score_room)
Score: Peek into something else              : no  (score_xtra)
Score: Know complete monster info            : no  (score_know)
Score: Allow player to avoid death           : no  (score_live)

[Pete Mack]

Biggest minus: when alchemist fails to stock ?recall during 5(!) Shop cycles. Blocked on an utterly silly resource bottleneck.

[Cuboideb]

Im in the process of adding NPP 7.1.0

It's hard but the ui was better

[Pete Mack]

I never liked the later NPPs as much. There are just so many monsters to deal with in the late levels that it's exhausting. 0.4.1 is an old favorite, though yes the UI could be better. And selling the most basic utility scrolls as a service would help. (Recall and phase door.).

[Pete Mack]

Cuboid--
I do like NPP 0.41, but the UI is annoying. The very worst issue is that there's no way to get the monster and object lists, either in subwindows or with the ] and [ commands.

[Cuboideb]

It seems that those commands were not implemented at that time. I will check if we can have subwindows in variants.

[Pete Mack]

Those commands are really, really useful, probably more useful than the subwindows.

[Pete Mack]

BTW: I am amazed that this is the first NPP post to the ladder since 2017. With modern V UI and ID, I'd play 0.4.1 most of the time. The Rogue in particular is a ton better. And giving Kavlax and mid-level D uniques speed +25 is... exciting. (Or just sudden death in the case of Kavlax.) Rogue sling mechanics are boss.
I'm doing 145 dam/turn with unenchanted ammo and a sling of extra might. But of course I use ego ammo for the big guys.

[Cuboideb]

I played NPP a lot, won several times until the game got too difficult. Rogues were a blast. Mages in later versions got powerful too (water ball). Miss those days, and working with Jeff.

[Pete Mack]

It's not so much the difficulty of later versions. It's the relentlessness. Just one OP monster after another. Even 0.4.1 flirts with this, what with the hydra pits of 8, 9, 10 headed hydras. At DL 40. Taking quests after DL ~38 is just losing proposition.

[Cuboideb]

Exactly, I remember that Radagast was a pain, he could teleport to you from anywhere in the level. The blue mages too.

[Pete Mack]

Yeah, one of those in the game is enough. (Which is to say, Azriel, Angel of Death.... or in NPP, I Guess it's the Jelly of Death. )
Edit: darn autocorrect. Azriel, not Arial.

[Pete Mack]

I have no idea if these bugs remain in later releases but:
* Quaker never quaked once, and I took him entirely in melee (with a gondolin weapon with pStun on it, else I would not have noticed.)

* At normal speed, Thunder drakes do not actually "seem to be moving as fast as the eye can see".